Two PhD positions in Malaria Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

Term limitation:

temporary

Beginning:

as soon as possible

Location:

Kaiserslautern

Scope:

Part time (65 %)

Remuneration:

E 13 TV‑L

Administration and Services:

Chemistry

With about 17,000 students, more than 300 professorships and around 160 degree programs, the University of Kaiserslautern‑Landau (RPTU) is the technical university of the state of Rhineland‑Palatinate. As a place of top international research, it offers excellent working conditions and career opportunities. Those who study, research or work at RPTU experience a cosmopolitan environment and shape the future.

The Przyborski Lab (JLU Gießen) and Deponte Lab (RPTU Kaiserslautern) invite applications for two PhD positions (36 months) in an exciting joint project on malaria thiol metabolism.

Your area of responsibility:

The focus of this collaborative project is to identify essential components of the thiol metabolism in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Using state-of-the-art CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and biochemical methods, you will:

• Systematically generate and analyze inducible knockout parasite lines
• Assess the essentiality of central enzymes of the thiol redox metabolism
• Characterize non-lethal knockout cell lines through confocal microscopy and biochemical assays

While genes from lethal knockout attempts will be considered for future intervention strategies, interesting phenotypes of non-lethal knockout cell lines will provide crucial insights regarding the relevance of the parasite\’s thiol metabolism for the synthesis of DNA or iron-sulfur clusters as well as the conversion and detoxification of redox metabolites.

Your requirements profile:

We are looking for highly motivated candidates who bring:

• A scientific completed university degree in science in molecular/cellular biology or biochemistry
• Fluency in written and spoken English and/or German
• Strong enthusiasm for hands‑on laboratory work
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• A passion for solving scientific puzzles and applying critical thinking

We offer:

• Health promotion
• Family Service Center
• Vocational Training
• Flexible working hour
• Jobticket
• Retirement provision
• Sport & Fitness programms
• Culture & Leisure offers
• Local recreation in the Palatinate Forest

RPTU stands for diversity among all employees. We welcome applications from all interested parties, regardless of their ethnic and social origin, age, religion, gender, disability and sexual orientation or identity. Preference will be given to severely disabled persons and persons equivalent to them if they have the appropriate qualifications and suitability.

The RPTU aims to increase the proportion of women in areas where women are underrepresented. Applications from researchers from abroad are expressly encouraged. The position can also be filled on a part-time basis.

Your application:

We look forward to receiving your detailed application (CV, references, etc.) by 15.11.2025 at the latest.

Please submit your application using the \“Online Bewerbung\“ button below or via our application portal https://jobs.rptu.de.

Your contact person at Department 3 Human Resources is Andreas Schmidt (Tel.: 0631 205 3548).

For technical questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Marcel Deponte (Tel.: 0631 205 3421, e-mail: deponte@rptu.de).